Now you must do all your work in my state room when I am not in the cabin, and this is the new rule," said Christy, as he went out of the room.

"I know that I can trust you, Dave; but when I tell a secret I want to know to how many persons I am telling it.

You may finish your work now;" and he closed the door.
Christy could not have explained why he did so if it had been required of him, but he went directly to the door leading out into the companion way, and suddenly threw it wide open, drawing the portiere aside at the same time.

Not a little to his surprise, for he had not expected it, he found a man there; and the intruder was down on his knees, as if in position to place his ear at the keyhole.

This time the young commander was indignant, and without stopping to consider as long as the precepts of his father required, he seized the man by the collar, and dragged him into the cabin.
"What are you doing there ?" demanded Christy in the heat of his indignation.
The intruder, who was a rather stout man, began to shake his head with all his might, and to put the fore finger of his right hand on his mouth and one of his ears.